Chest splint



Aug. 17,

A. W. OELGOETZ CHEST SPLINT Filed March :3, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 17 1926.

A. w. OELGOETZ CHEST SPLINT Filed March 5. 1924 I 2 Sheets- 511661. 2'

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

maze? nnron OELGOETZ, or COLUMBUS, OHIO.-

cnnsr same.

Application filed March 3, 1924. Serial No. 696,453. 7

to provide a device of this character so con.

structed that it can be easily and'constantly applied to the chest of the patient without irritating the skin and when inplace thereon serves to immobilize one side of the chest only, and thus rest the affected lung.

A further object of the invention is to provide a splint of this nature having associated therewith a belt for retarding the fre movement of the abdomen occasioned by breathing, (abdonimal respiration) thereby eliminating movement of the diaphragm and serving still further to rest the affected. lung.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a splint including a chest piece including a shoulder engaging cuff so connected with the chest piece as to exert a counter pull upon the opposite shoulder upon which the cuff is designed to be engaged. r

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, and hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims. 7

111 the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device showing it in place upon the right side of a person, 7

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the splint.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the chest-piece which is formed from suitable fabric and is substantially rectangular in shape so that it engages one side of the chest only from the center of the front to the center of the back, the one side of chest only being confined thereby.

To the lower edge of the chest-piece 1 is secured a belt 2 adapted to engage around the waist, said belt having stitched straps 3 adapted to engage the buckles 4 to hold the belt in adjusted positions,

The chest-piece 1 has stitched-thereto at its upper and lower edges a fabric sheet 5 which serves in conjunction with the chest- V 7 piece to provide a pocket 6, the purpose of which will later appear.

A shoulder engaging transversely split cuff 7 is employed and extends under the arm pit and around the opposite shoulder and has its free ends provided, respectively, with short straps 8 and buckles 9 whereby the cuff can be tightly adjusted to the shoulder, said cuff being comparatively wide to enable the same to be worn with comfort.

The rear edges of this cuff has secured thereto buckles 10 for adjustably engaging the adjacent endsof the'straps 11, said straps being stitched intermediate their ends transverselyof the chest-piece 1 and have their other ends capable of being detachably engaged with the buckles 12 carried by the front edge of the cuff.

It will be obvious that when the chestpiece 1 and cuff 7 are placed upon the patient and the straps 18 engage with the buckles 12 the chest-piece may be drawn tight so as to limit the expansion of the affected side of the chest and thereby rest the affected lung. It will be observed that the belt 2 and cuff 7 are so related with the chest-piece 1 that one side of the chest will be permitted free movement while the other side thereof will be immobilized thereby preventing undue expansion and contrac tion of that side of the chest, occasioned by breathing, thereby resting the affected lung.

The pocket 6 may be utilized to receive a hot water bag or an electrically heated pad to apply heat to the chest and lung. By means of the'splint heat and rest can therefore be applied to the affected side at the same time.

As shown in Figure 1 the splint is engaged in position for treating the right chest, but it will be obvious that the device can be shifted for the treatment of the left chest and lung, as shown in Figure 2.

What is claimed is:

A surgical appliance of the character set forth, comprising a flexible thorax embracing splint formed from a woven material and capable of engaging interchangeably the right or left side of the wearer, said splint extending substantially half way around the body of the wearer and extending from the arm pit to the Waist, a Waist engaging belt for securing the splint around the Waist of the wearer, a flexible shoulder engaging eufi' applied to the opposite side of th wearer as regards said splint and having an 'arm opening adapting the cuff to be fitted around the formed therein shoulder and under the arm of the wearer, and a, plurality of counter pulling straps ture. r V

ANTON W'. OELGOETZ'.

edjustably connected with the splint and 

